people

Charlotte
K Needham

Charlotte
K Needham, known as “Coco,” has been
the center’s administrative assistant since 2002. She is of Native
Hawaiian descent and is very passionate about issues involving the education
of Native Hawaiian youths who will be the future leaders of Hawai‘i.
Coco is one of the founding members of two New Century Public Charter
Schools, Hālau Kū Māna and Hālau Lōkahi, and is also involved with the
Queen Lili‘uokalani Childrens’ Center, a trust that serves
Native Hawaiian youth.

Raised in the place of her ancestors, Coco has a very
strong sense of connection to place, community, and family. She currently
serves as vice president of the Maunalaha Valley Community Association
(MVCA). During her tenure as MVCA president (1998–2004), the association,
together with the UH Center for Hawaiian Studies and the Papakōlea Community
Association, received a grant from the US Department of Housing and Urban
Development (2001). Also while MVCA president she helped form the Maunalaha
Watershed Partnership. As a volunteer with the Honolulu Habitat for Humanity,
Coco has helped to build three homes in her community. To further serve
the community, she was the incorporating board member and president of
the Hui ‘Ohana ‘O Maunalaha-Opu Ea (HOME), a nonprofit (501[c]3)
community land trust.